The hidden costs of competition over new transmission infrastructure

A right of first refusal is not a reward for any utilities or builders at the expense of others. It merely recognizes the need for new infrastructure and provides a first opportunity to those already operating existing infrastructure.

By Benjamin Dierker • Feb. 14, 2024

State utility regulators urge PJM, MISO to bolster joint interregional transmission planning

“Expanding transfer capacity between regions can help to improve grid resilience and minimize the negative impacts of extreme weather events,” OMS and OPSI told the grid operators.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 14, 2024

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Grid Resiliency

Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

Maryland ratepayer advocate urges FERC to reject PJM’s $5.1B transmission cost allocation plan

Virginia — not other states — should pay for transmission costs driven by its data center incentive policy, the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Feb. 14, 2024

What utility commissioners should know about a flawed Western day-ahead market study

The study reads like an advertisement for a product that’s missing important context and comparisons — and as individual utility filings appear in dockets around the West, public utility commissioners should approach it as such.

By Bob Jenks • Feb. 9, 2024

Interregional transmission would grow 126%, to 191 GW, by 2035 under BIG WIRES bill: report

The biggest percentage growth in interregional transmission expansion would occur in the Southeast, according to analysis by the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 8, 2024

DOE launches solicitation for up to $1.2B in transmission capacity contracts

The Tuesday request for proposals marks the second round of potential funding from the DOE’s Transmission Facilitation Program.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 7, 2024

Clean energy groups back Duke Energy multi-value local transmission planning proposal

If approved, Duke could have the only local planning process that uses proactive, multi-value scenario planning, according to North Carolina clean energy groups.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 5, 2024

Eversource, others may be capitalizing on lax reviews for some transmission projects: Maine officials

“Asset condition” projects receive almost no regulatory scrutiny by states or ISO New England, possibly to the benefit of utility shareholders, Maine’s ratepayer office told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 2, 2024

2024 US power sector outlook

The U.S. clean energy transition is expected to accelerate in 2024 but faces question around transmission, financing, federal elections and other issues.

By Utility Dive staff • Jan. 31, 2024

Entergy wins, wind developers lose with MISO, SPP transmission constraints: NBER paper

Without the constraints, two Entergy utilities would have had $930 million less in operating profits in 2022, a possible incentive to oppose new transmission, the paper said.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 31, 2024

As wildfires losses mount, will commercial insurers decline to cover utilities?

As Xcel Energy, PG&E, Hawaiian Electric and others confront catastrophic wildfires, industry observers believe the growing risk could spur innovation in commercial insurance that ultimately benefits utilities.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 31, 2024

EEI, utilities urge FERC to reverse decision cutting PG&E equity adder for CAISO participation

The commission’s decision to deny Pacific Gas & Electric extra return on equity marks an “unfortunate shift” in the agency’s approach to infrastructure investment, the Edison Electric Institute said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 30, 2024

FERC Outlook: Danly exit could boost transmission reform, but smaller commission poses risks

Other top priorities for FERC this year include continued efforts to improve the interconnection process, consideration of expanded transmission ties between regions and possible power market reforms, according to agency experts.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 29, 2024

New solutions emerge to better integrate renewables into the grid, Xcel, Eversource and others say

Requiring the 400+ GW of battery capacity in U.S. interconnection queues to have grid-forming capabilities could enable variable renewables growth “cheaper and faster than adding new transmission,” one expert said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2024

Utility Business Outlook: Power prices stay elevated as elections sow uncertainty for clean energy plans

For utilities and the clean energy sector, 2024 could bring “an exceptional level of volatility and opportunity,” according to Bank of America Global Research analysts.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2024

Composite poles vs. alternatives in the face of natural disasters

Composite utility poles have been shown to be highly resilient in ice storms, freezing rain, hurricanes and wildfires.

Jan. 22, 2024

Extreme weather shows need for dispatchable resources, new transmission: FERC commissioners

FERC Acting Chairman Willie Phillips expects the agency will issue new transmission planning and cost allocation rules in the “coming months.”

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 19, 2024

Robot worms, lasers, drones and AI: How ARPA-E wants to move the US power grid underground

The U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday announced $34 million in funding to explore novel approaches to undergrounding to increase resiliency.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2024

Texas grid holds firm through frigid temperatures, 3 demand records, 2 conservation calls

The Texas power grid is more resilient than it was in 2021, when Winter Storm Uri caused widespread blackouts and almost 250 deaths.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 17, 2024

9 US power sector trends to watch in 2024

The U.S. march toward a decarbonized electric system will continue in 2024 as policymakers and others work to balance, climate, reliability, affordability and other goals.

By Robert Walton, Ethan Howland, Diana DiGangi, Larry Pearl, Kavya Balaraman and Emma Penrod • Jan. 10, 2024

500K East Coast outages persist after day of storms; grid braces for coming Arctic weather

“Next week we will see the coldest air of the season push in from Canada over much of the central and eastern U.S.,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2024

Energizing change: American Electric Power’s evolution with IFS

Discover how American Electric Power revolutionized its operations with IFS MWM, transforming meter reading from traditional to cutting-edge and setting a new standard in the energy sector. Join AEP's journey into a smarter, safer and more sustainable future.

Jan. 8, 2024

Pattern Energy secures $11B in financing, starts full construction on SunZia wind, transmission projects

The scale of the SunZia project and its multifaceted financing show the renewable energy space can secure capital at levels previously only seen in traditional generation, Pattern executive Daniel Elkort said.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 3, 2024

FERC nixes PG&E’s requested $41.4M annual equity incentive for being a CAISO member

However, the Department of Energy on Tuesday decided to award the utility credits to help it keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant running.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 2, 2024

As reliability concerns with renewables rise, upgrading inverters is urgent, analysts say

The variable output of renewable energy resources requires “grid-forming” inverters to protect power system current flows, engineers and others agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 2, 2024